Office Hours with David Meltzer

In this episode, David sits down with Bob Quintana, John Warner, and Shelton Mercer III for a conversation about AI, leadership, entrepreneurship, civic responsibility, and creating meaningful impact. Bob Quintana, Founder and CEO of Enlightened Entrepreneurship Group, shares how AI agents are being implemented across more than 100 companies and why AI can act as an accelerator, amplifying both the strengths and weaknesses already present within an organization. He explains what AI agents can do, why entrepreneurs should embrace them now, and why becoming AI-ready is essential for creating better results instead of confusion or chaos.

John Warner is an entrepreneur, leader, mentor, and author of The Tuesday Code. He is the founder of Capital Insights and InnoVenture, a Liberty Fellow and member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and a longtime mentor to innovators and entrepreneurs. He also spent two decades as a weekly broadcaster on South Carolina Public Radio, where he became known as the “Swamp Fox.” In The Tuesday Code, John shares a timely message for the “Exhausted Majority”—people tired of political noise and ready to take action and build something better.

Shelton Mercer III, award-winning entrepreneur, investor, and humanitarian, shares his perspective on innovation, measurable outcomes, and creating lasting social impact. He also discusses the newly launched $25 million MERCER Outcomes & Innovation Fund, designed to accelerate innovation and strengthen community impact across Philadelphia and beyond.

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In this episode, David sits down with three entrepreneurs who share practical insights on scaling businesses, building wealth, and creating opportunities. Adam Rosen, entrepreneur and global traveler, shares how he exited his first tech startup in 2019 and went on to build EOC Works and The Nomad Cloud. Since acquiring The Nomad Cloud in January 2024 with just 5,000 subscribers, Adam has grown the newsletter into a community of more than 200,000 subscribers while building a seven-figure, bootstrapped business.

Tyler McBroom, CPA, entrepreneur, and CEO of TRM CPA, shares strategies for reducing taxes, increasing profitability, and building long-term wealth. He helped grow his family’s CPA firm from $700K to $5M in revenue in under five years before building his own firm to $5M in less than three years. Tyler combines financial expertise with storytelling and has built an Instagram audience of more than 962,000 followers by making business and financial topics simple and engaging.

CJ McMahon, entrepreneur, investor, and Founder and CEO of ATMInvestors.com, shares his approach to building wealth through alternative assets and cash-flowing businesses. At just 30, CJ has invested millions in ATM machines, laundromats, and other businesses, drawing on his journey from a modest background to becoming a successful investor. He also shares insights on stocks, money management, acquisitions, and his upcoming book, The Art of Acquisitions: How to Find, Vet, Negotiate and Buy Businesses Without Screwing It Up!

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In today’s episode, Brian Sher and I discuss how to recognize who can truly be trusted in sports and entertainment. We share a three-bucket system for evaluating reliability, responsiveness, honesty, and consistency while allowing people room to grow and change. Brian explains why actions reveal far more than words, especially when dealing with flaky partners, manipulators, oversellers, and people who criticize others behind their backs. We also explore the difference between standing in authentic power and using force to compensate for insecurity. From reputation and credibility to name-dropping and humility, we explain how recurring patterns can help determine where relationships deserve our time, trust, and attention.

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In this episode, David sits down with Michael N. Fineman and Dr. Jan R. Krupp for conversations about building meaningful relationships, pursuing bold visions, and turning the seemingly impossible into reality. Michael N. Fineman, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and relationship strategist, shares insights on identity, influence, communication, and building powerful connections that create meaningful opportunities and lasting impact.

Dr. Jan R. Krupp, a physician-turned-vintner, shares the remarkable story of leaving medicine to transform 750 acres of rugged volcanic mountainside in Napa Valley into the renowned Stagecoach Vineyard. His journey of perseverance, creativity, and determination is chronicled in his forthcoming book, Forging Eden, offering powerful lessons on pursuing a vision others believe is impossible.

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In today’s episode, I speak with Raj Shingadia, Rob Smith, and Dr. Sam Adeyemi about entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, and personal transformation. Raj shares how frustration with existing aquarium products pushed him to abandon a traditional career path, trust his instincts, and build a business around solving a problem he understood firsthand. Rob explains why technology alone cannot protect a growing company and why effective cybersecurity still requires constant human attention. Dr. Sam presents his SHIFTS framework for changing subconscious patterns, reinventing ourselves, and moving from success toward significance. Together, we discuss following a calling, embracing reinvention, empowering others, and building lasting success through service.

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Carolyn Haeler, Founder and CEO of Mightylicious Gluten Free, shares how a celiac disease diagnosis inspired her to leave a successful career at JP Morgan and build a premium gluten-free food brand. She discusses creating better-tasting gluten-free products, growing Mightylicious into a nationally distributed company, raising $5 million in just 48 hours through Republic crowdfunding, and the lessons she’s learned about resilience, fundraising, branding, and scaling a consumer business. Learn more at mightylicious.com.

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In today’s episode, I speak with Bart Berkey and Debra Russell about presence, human connection, and overcoming overwhelm. Bart explains why being where your feet are allows others to feel genuinely welcomed, cared for, valued, and seen. We discuss clearing distractions, taking action, and doing what most people avoid because meaningful connection requires conscious effort. Debra shares a practical structure for organizing business responsibilities into clear categories, narrowing your focus, and reducing the emotional burden of decision-making. She also reminds us that it is never too late to begin again, regardless of age, setbacks, or missed opportunities, as long as you are willing to start now.

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In today’s episode, Nic Glazer and I break down how preparation kept an unpredictable trip to New York from becoming a complete disaster. I share why I keep duplicate chargers, toiletries, snacks, tea, and travel essentials permanently packed, along with how I choose airports, flights, drivers, and schedules around every possible outcome. When weather turned a five-hour flight into an 11-hour ordeal, staying flexible helped me protect my energy, remain productive, and adjust dinner plans without frustration taking over. We also discuss the difference between being busy and being active, available, accessible, and productive, especially when communicating priorities and making the most of unexpected time.

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In today’s episode, I sit down with PGA coach Virgil Herring to discuss how technology is making golf more accessible, efficient, and enjoyable for players at every level. We explore how simulators reduce cost, time, and embarrassment for beginners while creating new opportunities for instructors and business relationships. Virgil explains how precise data helps professionals replace uncertainty with confidence and move from hoping and believing to truly knowing. I connect that lesson to entrepreneurship, where preparation, accurate information, and a clear understanding of perceived value and the bottom line create better decisions. We also discuss visualization, consistent effort, and finding flow in golf, business, and life.

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In this episode, David explores resilience, leadership, personal transformation, and the power of turning difficult experiences into meaningful change with three inspiring entrepreneurs and leaders.

Alex da Silva, Founder of Silva Cosmetics, shares how a life-changing spinal condition and his son’s struggle with severe eczema inspired him to create a natural skincare brand. After developing Sano, Alex turned a deeply personal challenge into a mission to help more than one million people find natural solutions for their skin and improve their quality of life.

Adam Markel, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and resilience researcher, explores how leaders can navigate uncertainty, rebuild trust, and create stronger workplace cultures. His new book, Re-Culture, introduces the idea that culture is not simply something an organization has—it is something people practice every day, with collective resilience at its core.

Dr. Pam Manfredo Curtis, elite executive coach and Founder and President of Manfredo Curtis Associates, shares how family experiences and childhood environments can shape leadership, communication, and personal patterns. Drawing from more than 35 years of coaching C-level leaders, she explains how vulnerability, emotional awareness, and psychological safety can help leaders transform their past into a source of strength.

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